MSU Billings Chamber Singers, Gainan's Team up for Valentine's Day Treat

Singing valentine delivery will benefit university choral department

MSU BILLINGS NEWS SERVICES — Valentine’s Day is a day for flowers, chocolates and feelings of love.  

This coming Thursday, Billings residents can add a singing valentine to that combination that will not only make your sweetheart swoon, but benefit a local choral group.

Members of the Montana State University Billings Chamber Singers will be teaming up with teaming up with Gainan’s Flowers to provide “singing valentines” with delivery of flowers on Valentine’s Day. When a customer places an order for flowers at Gainan’s, they can pay an additional $40 for members of the Chamber Singers to deliver those flowers with a song.

The proceeds from those singing valentines will be used to benefit students in the MSU Billings choral department.

Chris Sheppard, assistant professor of music and director of choral activities at MSU Billings, said 21 members of the Chamber Singers will break up into four teams for deliveries on Thursday.  He said they plan on making two guaranteed deliveries an hour throughout the day.

Customers who buy the singing valentine can choose from a romantic song or another arrangement from the Beatles that is lighter and “can be used for a family member or a friend,” said Sheppard.

Sheppard said the singing valentine is not a new concept for college performers, but being able to partner with Gainan’s on the “nuts and bolts” of orders and deliveries is a huge benefit.  Sheppard will spend the day at Gainan’s helping with logistics and dispatching student singers.

Jim Gainan of Gainan’s said that a limited number of slots are available for guaranteed delivery times of flowers and a song. With about 3,000 expected deliveries on Feb. 14, those slots are a premium.

“I’ve never been able to guarantee delivery at a specific time on Valentine's Day before and now we can with these specific time slots,” Gainan said.

He added that adding a singing valentine to his company’s list of offerings this Valentine’s Day is a customer service and community benefit.

“When unique opportunities come up, you have to go after them,” he said. “Putting the two together makes customers happy and it provides funds for a choral program that needs money.”

Deliveries will start in the morning of the 14th and continue throughout the day.

For more information on the singing valentine deliveries using MSU Billings Chamber Singers, contact Gainan’s at 245-6434.

For more information on the MSU Billings Choral Department, contact Sheppard at 657-2048.